Looking Back: 6/24

Betty Slowe

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 10:11 p.m.

50 years ago this week:

Attorneys for University of Alabama football coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant planned to question Atlanta Journal Sports Editor Furman Bisher about his part in a Saturday Evening Post football “fix” article, in which Bryant was accused of conspiring with former University of Georgia Athletic Director Wallace Butts to rig the outcome of the 1962 Georgia-Alabama football game, a game in which Alabama crushed the Bulldogs 35-0.

Irby Thomas was installed as president of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce at a meeting at Hotel Stafford.

Emma Christian, lifelong resident of Northport, died at 92. She was the widow of Wash Christian and daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. John Powell.

Bibb County's only remaining widow of a Confederate soldier, Emma Bracknell, died at 99.

A contract was awarded to build Tuscaloosa's new post office between 21st and 22nd avenues and 13th and 14th streets.

Northport native Frank Lary, the Detroit right-hander who had established himself as one of the game's best pitchers before an injury threw him off stride in the previous season, was almost ready to rejoin the Tigers.

25 years ago this week:

A panel of preservationists, design professionals and Tuscaloosa city officials toured Capitol Park as a preliminary step toward drafting a plan for use of the former site of the state capitol.

Alice McLean Stewart was elected to serve as chairwoman of the local board of directors of Phoenix Houses Inc.

A 130-year-old mistake in an old land patent book caused some private homes in Lamar County to be built on federal property. Rep. Tom Bevill proposed legislation to rewrite the history of about 80 acres of public land.

University of Alabama history professor Lawrence A. Clayton was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research and lecture in Peru.

UA President Joab L. Thomas announced that he would resign effective Sept. 1 to take a one-year sabbatical at North Carolina State University before returning to UA as a biology professor.

For the first time in years, there were no fireworks at the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority's July Jubilee. The firm that sponsored the displays in the past said the drought that the area was experiencing made liability insurance too costly.

Northport Mayor Edward D. “Big Ed” Robertson announced that he would seek re-election to a second term as mayor.

10 years ago this week:

UA suspended the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity for two years after the organization pleaded guilty of unspecified hazing violations.

Hundreds of phone calls to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals headquarters prompted a letter from the group to Gainesville Mayor Carrie Fulghum for the steps she took to eradicate the town's stray dog population. She had paid a local resident to capture 11 dogs and 12 puppies that he later released in a rural area.

A faction of the University of West Alabama board of trustees asked a Montgomery Circuit Court judge to bar the remaining board members and the university president from raising tuition and to name their group the rightful leader of the school.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration fined Jim Walter Resources $435,000 for safety violations that the government believed directly attributed to the Bookwood mine explosions in September 2001 that killed 13 miners. The company contested the fines.

Tuscaloosa Academy graduate John Cohen, 36, was hired as the baseball coach at the University of Kentucky.

A rift between the superintendent of the city school board, Louise Crawford, and members of the board resulted after Crawford publicly aligned with the Black Elected Officials of Tuscaloosa County and said that they would accept nothing less than a school in west Tuscaloosa. The board stood by its vote to re-build Central High School on 15th Street.

The Alberta Streetscape project, a $2.4-million facelift intended to revitalize the business and residential district, was almost complete.

Five years ago this week:

Once-promising UA football player Jimmy Johns was dismissed from the team by Coach Nick Saban and suspended from the university after the senior linebacker was charged with selling cocaine.

Noted Tuscaloosa geologist P.E. LaMoreaux Sr. died at 88. LaMoreaux was a former geologist for the state and founder of P.E. LaMoreaux and Associates in Tuscaloosa.

A storm with estimated 70-mph winds damaged the roof of the Dillard's store in the McFarland Mall, accelerating the store's plans to close.

A record number of candidates announced plans to run for mayor of Northport. Bobby Herndon, former City Council members Billy Booth and Robert Thomas and retiree Frank Chandler said they would run against incumbent Mayor Harvey Fretwell.

One year ago this week:

Retired Army Sgt. Grover House was named the National Volunteer of the Year by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Tuscaloosa was ordered to pay the owners of Graceland Apartments $536,000 to seize the land through its powers of eminent domain for use as part of the new Alberta Elementary School campus.

The hotel developer looking at building Embassy Suites at the CityFest site was granted a second extension by the City Council.

James Reddoch of Tuscaloosa was appointed commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health by Gov. Robert Bentley after Zelia Baugh announced her resignation.

Renasant Bank received approval from the City Council to build a two-story bank building at 2518 University Blvd., between the southern ends of the Lurleen Wallace Boulevard bridges.

Mercedes-Benz rolled out the first vehicle of the second generation of its upscale GL-Class sport utility vehicle.

Tyler Merriweather, an 18-year-old Holt High School graduate, became the first person in the Boys & Girls Club of West Alabama's 51-year history to win the Southeast region Youth of the Year competition.

<p>50 years ago this week:</p><p>Attorneys for University of Alabama football coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant planned to question Atlanta Journal Sports Editor Furman Bisher about his part in a Saturday Evening Post football “fix” article, in which Bryant was accused of conspiring with former University of Georgia Athletic Director Wallace Butts to rig the outcome of the 1962 Georgia-Alabama football game, a game in which Alabama crushed the Bulldogs 35-0. </p><p>Irby Thomas was installed as president of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce at a meeting at Hotel Stafford.</p><p>Emma Christian, lifelong resident of Northport, died at 92. She was the widow of Wash Christian and daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. John Powell.</p><p>Bibb County's only remaining widow of a Confederate soldier, Emma Bracknell, died at 99. </p><p>A contract was awarded to build Tuscaloosa's new post office between 21st and 22nd avenues and 13th and 14th streets.</p><p>Northport native Frank Lary, the Detroit right-hander who had established himself as one of the game's best pitchers before an injury threw him off stride in the previous season, was almost ready to rejoin the Tigers.</p><p>25 years ago this week:</p><p>A panel of preservationists, design professionals and Tuscaloosa city officials toured Capitol Park as a preliminary step toward drafting a plan for use of the former site of the state capitol.</p><p>Alice McLean Stewart was elected to serve as chairwoman of the local board of directors of Phoenix Houses Inc.</p><p>A 130-year-old mistake in an old land patent book caused some private homes in Lamar County to be built on federal property. Rep. Tom Bevill proposed legislation to rewrite the history of about 80 acres of public land.</p><p>University of Alabama history professor Lawrence A. Clayton was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research and lecture in Peru.</p><p>UA President Joab L. Thomas announced that he would resign effective Sept. 1 to take a one-year sabbatical at North Carolina State University before returning to UA as a biology professor. </p><p>For the first time in years, there were no fireworks at the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority's July Jubilee. The firm that sponsored the displays in the past said the drought that the area was experiencing made liability insurance too costly.</p><p>Northport Mayor Edward D. “Big Ed” Robertson announced that he would seek re-election to a second term as mayor.</p><p>10 years ago this week:</p><p>UA suspended the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity for two years after the organization pleaded guilty of unspecified hazing violations.</p><p>Hundreds of phone calls to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals headquarters prompted a letter from the group to Gainesville Mayor Carrie Fulghum for the steps she took to eradicate the town's stray dog population. She had paid a local resident to capture 11 dogs and 12 puppies that he later released in a rural area.</p><p>A faction of the University of West Alabama board of trustees asked a Montgomery Circuit Court judge to bar the remaining board members and the university president from raising tuition and to name their group the rightful leader of the school.</p><p>The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration fined Jim Walter Resources $435,000 for safety violations that the government believed directly attributed to the Bookwood mine explosions in September 2001 that killed 13 miners. The company contested the fines.</p><p>Tuscaloosa Academy graduate John Cohen, 36, was hired as the baseball coach at the University of Kentucky.</p><p>A rift between the superintendent of the city school board, Louise Crawford, and members of the board resulted after Crawford publicly aligned with the Black Elected Officials of Tuscaloosa County and said that they would accept nothing less than a school in west Tuscaloosa. The board stood by its vote to re-build Central High School on 15th Street.</p><p>The Alberta Streetscape project, a $2.4-million facelift intended to revitalize the business and residential district, was almost complete.</p><p>Five years ago this week:</p><p>Once-promising UA football player Jimmy Johns was dismissed from the team by Coach Nick Saban and suspended from the university after the senior linebacker was charged with selling cocaine. </p><p>Noted Tuscaloosa geologist P.E. LaMoreaux Sr. died at 88. LaMoreaux was a former geologist for the state and founder of P.E. LaMoreaux and Associates in Tuscaloosa.</p><p>A storm with estimated 70-mph winds damaged the roof of the Dillard's store in the McFarland Mall, accelerating the store's plans to close.</p><p>A record number of candidates announced plans to run for mayor of Northport. Bobby Herndon, former City Council members Billy Booth and Robert Thomas and retiree Frank Chandler said they would run against incumbent Mayor Harvey Fretwell.</p><p>One year ago this week:</p><p>Retired Army Sgt. Grover House was named the National Volunteer of the Year by the Daughters of the American Revolution.</p><p>Tuscaloosa was ordered to pay the owners of Graceland Apartments $536,000 to seize the land through its powers of eminent domain for use as part of the new Alberta Elementary School campus.</p><p>The hotel developer looking at building Embassy Suites at the CityFest site was granted a second extension by the City Council.</p><p>James Reddoch of Tuscaloosa was appointed commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health by Gov. Robert Bentley after Zelia Baugh announced her resignation.</p><p>Renasant Bank received approval from the City Council to build a two-story bank building at 2518 University Blvd., between the southern ends of the Lurleen Wallace Boulevard bridges.</p><p>Mercedes-Benz rolled out the first vehicle of the second generation of its upscale GL-Class sport utility vehicle.</p><p>Tyler Merriweather, an 18-year-old Holt High School graduate, became the first person in the Boys & Girls Club of West Alabama's 51-year history to win the Southeast region Youth of the Year competition.</p><p>Compiled by retired news librarian Betty Slowe.</p>